Sunday, 04 January 2009

"I would rather beashesthan dust! I would rather that my sparkshould burn out in a brilliant blazethan it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepyand permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.I shall not waste my daysin trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." Jack London

Thank you all for this year - I hope you had a memorable one. Mine feels like it flew by and it has involved a fair amount of hard work.
I wish you a marvellous 2009 - may the most audacious of your wishes come true. (As well as an unexpected adventure or two thrown in for good measure.)

My word (words!) or intention for this year is from the core. Last year I chose the word vitality, which I loved. It changed me in ways that are still blooming inside. More on that later when I’d like to write up my Mondo Beyondo list for 2008. For 2009 I want to focus on living from the core. To make more deliberate choices, to feel grounded and centered, to give more to everything I do, to see more clearly, to have more structure, to be more me. What is your word for 2009?

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

I've never considered myself to be a writer. I only ever write here and in the past have only ever written for school assignments or in emotional places that were too hard to see clearly without following a pen across a page. I've never kept regular diaries or notebooks, not kept anything apart from the pages here.

My relationship is the same to writing as it is to drawing - I love it, and I love it the most when I haven't got a clue where the sentences in a paragraph or the curves of a sketch appear from. Those are the times I almost keep what I've created, when it feels like it wasn't really me in the first place. But I get so attached to what I write or draw, a pride that perhaps stems from my dad who is always fiercely proud of what his children create. It makes me feel sick eventually, the desperation of wanting to be great. So I let it go, throw it away. Apart from here.

From the beginning I have been letting quickly written blog posts go out, trying not to think too much about my writing style, just carefully looking them over for missing rhythm or the occasional right word. Lately I've poured over them more though, thinking about who I am in my writing... Worrying that it is off-putting, not personal enough. That I am still too attached to the beauty of language, forsaking the down and dirty version that would have shown more of me. I've compared myself to people whose writing I get lost and absorbed in, who don't dress up their honesty in beautiful words, who use shorter sentences, who dare address their readers differently, who make the most mundane things sound inspiring, who wrap it all up in a satisfying bundle at the end.

I've wanted to be more like this and that, collecting aspects to try, aching to be different. Feeling stuck with a style I never accepted was mine, thinking it's only what I've been using until I find my own. Which is true, I want to change more and more into what is me. But, this is me already. This is my voice that I have to work with. It's been a bit of a shock to realise, as it's been a shock to see that my photos will always have traces of me, always be of the same mould regardless of where I will go.

It's been time to pull the strings of those dreamy balloons closer to me, to realise where they are tethered to, where they'll always originate from however far out in the ether I've pictured them. And that is good. Life is telling me in yet another way that I am ok. Even though I'm sighing at the end of the string - oh not her again! Why does it always come back to her? I know her so well and I much prefer the exotic ways of these other people, why can't I be like them instead?

So in the middle of this figuring out what it's like to accept the limitations and possibilities of this specific patch of earth I'll always be standing on and what to make of it, I got tagged. I'm to write three things about writing. I was delighted at first, the pride of having your writing noticed. Then ashamed, because I really have no advice for that kind of writing, you know writing writing. I want to write about those aspects I've collected from other people, what I want to be like but am not yet. But I can't do that, that's cheating, really. So calming down I realised I'll just have to write about the few things I do know, about blog writing.

Number one is pretty much already dealt with - be who you are. Make the most of what your voice offers, whether that is frank and humorous, poetic and dreamy, honest and true to emotion, factual and trustworthy or wild and spontaneous. Figure out what you write well and aim toward some aspects you think would improve your writing, but never forget where you're coming from and what your basic personality is like.

Number two is to not be afraid to go into the little things. For myself and perhaps other people too, I'm still too polite and shy, not wanting to take up time or effort of other people and being frugal with the words. Somehow it feels helpful to summarise our lives for the ease of the reader, giving the bare bones of our daily life, feelings or thoughts. But when I read my own stuff, the writing I like the most is the one that just describes one little thing or experience in depth, where I can really feel it, like being there.

So rather than 'I did the laundry, had coffee in town and laughed with my boyfriend' perhaps 'the mountain of whites was overflowing into the next room and I had to wade to the washing machine, but that feeling of having a neatly folded pile smelling squeaky clean and fragrant, the warmth of the fabric and the tidiness around the empty laundry basket is unbeatable.' Err, never written about that before, but there you go! Hope it makes sense. :)

Number three is to play. Let some magic into your writing, dare a little more. Say something without explaining or apologising for it. Dare be yourself - be contradictory, scrap the false modesty, play around. This is your blog after all and you as you are is so much more interesting than the ideal that we all share. I dare ya! And you should dare me too, god knows I've still got envelopes to push. Want to come play with me?

(I'm supposed to tag three folk now, but I'm so curious about all of you so please will you write three things if I ask you, yes you?)

Right, that wasn't so hard! This one's been sitting nearly finished in my drafts for weeks now, I'm glad it's left the nest. That's two tags down, one to go.

I'm free and light as a bird these days I'm happy to report. The dark clouds that followed me around due to a certain situation have finally shed their rain and the theory exam results arrived today. I pounced on the poor letter and tore it open, more than a little nervous that I flunked the thing. I didn't. Yay! So that's nearly two months of college freedom ahead of me, full of friend get-togethers, crafty projects, novels, poetry and breathing in spring away from that desk.

Yesterday I spent a peaceful afternoon scanning photos from India and Brazil and today I've been making up affirmations to print out, doodle pretty colours on and stash away in a sweet pouch somewhere. I'm preparing for spring cleaning - for the place, my body and my mind. Feeling ready to leap into a new life and that squeaky clean, fragrant, tidy and satisfying place where life is flowing smoothly. The laundry has been overflowing for too long.

Sunday, 24 February 2008

Oh, I am nowhere near words these last few days... My apologies to the lovely posts you have written - I will come soon! This weekend was in need of being with the heart rather than the head, so I've been...

...soothing myself with cutting out images that help me dream,

clearing out and rearranging my room to calm the disorder in my head,

taking some photos of the birthday present my younger brother sewed for me so I can send him a thank you,

staring out the window at the robins and the neighbour's puppy and the breeze,

and just being.

I'll be back soon. Much love 'til then - xoxo

ps. Those strange body parts I have pictures of on my wall are for all the acupuncture points I have to learn. You'll find me staring at them while I brush my teeth.

Saturday, 16 February 2008

Take my hand
We will walk
We will only walk
We will enjoy our walk
without thinking of arriving anywhere
Walk peacefully
Walk happily
Our walk is a peace walk
Our walk is a happiness walk

Then we learn
that there is no peace walk
that peace is the walk
that there is no happiness walk
that happiness is the walk
We walk for ourselves
We walk for everyone
always hand in hand

Walk and touch peace every moment
Walk and touch happiness every moment
Each step brings a fresh breeze
Each step makes a flower bloom under our feet
Kiss the Earth with your feet
Print on Earth your love and happiness

ps. The exams went well enough, I think, and I'm so relieved to have them over. The second year isn't over yet, but the worst is. Flowers are waiting to bloom in my head, bursting with colour where it's been rather monochromatic lately, only the Chinese medicine magic. Which is wonderful too, but oh, the projects, walks, novels and friends I've missed... :) I'm nearly back.

Sunday, 03 February 2008

I love surrounding myself with old functional things. Or, if not old then at least made of natural materials and built to last. There is not only beauty in that, but vitality, a sense of meaning and responsibility. Well-made tools become more beautiful the more they are used, feel alive from the spirit the craftsman put into them, give meaning to work because you enjoy using them and give a sense of responsibility to look after and put love into what you create.

My favourite pairs of scissors. The long ones have just the right balance.

I love the wooden handles on these tools, and the way they have worn.

On an outdoor market in Brighton I once found a stall run by two old gentlemen, filled to the ceiling with boxes of vintage tools. A young woman trawling through their piles seemed to be a bit of a novelty (and I think it might have influenced the prices) so I got all the help I needed. Not that I would have minded spending that hour on my own finding treasures, but I had so much fun talking to them and it made me feel comfortable hanging around. I asked them if the long pair of scissors above would still work, which prompted them to polish them up for me for free (they still work a treat, so sharp).

The little things that show the craftsman cared and loved what he was doing always touch me. The beauty in the general design, but mostly the decorations that aren't functionally necessary but add to the joy.

A cracked Mason bowl, a worn wooden spoon, an old silver fork, an apple corer, my gran's old cup that I broke the handle off and a charity shop find: a serving spoon with decorative holes in it for which I don't know the purpose, but I love it and use it.

The things we use every day and look at often are so important to me. I want to feel the purpose and meaning and joy of the everyday things, feel I deserve to eat on pretty china, use tools that make the small things a celebration and feel surrounded by objects that have been lovingly made and lovingly used. What are your favourite things or finds?

One of my polished fit glass jars, reminds me a bit of a snow globe in this light.

Thursday, 31 January 2008

create little worlds. bent on creating the world I've craved since a child, where magic, the impossible and extraordinary can happen anytime (especially anytime).

drink organic hot cocoa with rice milk. no milk, no sugar, but life can be just as wonderful anyway.

snuggle up to the daffodils. we love rubbing our noses together - they'll all bunch around, their skirts rustling and their silky heads all soft against my face, their scent saying - hello you, we're friends.